Spirit Airlines Expands Caribbean Network With New Service To Santiago, Dominican Republic

$9 Introductory Fares* Available at www.spiritair.com

Miramar, Florida (January 8, 2009) –Spirit Airlines today announced that it is further expanding its Caribbean route network with the introduction of new service between its Fort Lauderdale home and Santiago, Dominican Republic.  Beginning June 18, 2009, the ultra low cost carrier will offer four weekly flights to Santiago, Dominican Republic from Fort Lauderdale, including connections from 16 cities in the United States.

The new service to Santiago complements Spirit’s current service to Santo Domingo and seasonal service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Spirit is kicking off its new service with introductory fares from $9* each way available today and tomorrow at www.spiritair.com. 

The service will be operated with Spirit’s fleet of Airbus A319s, the youngest in the Americas.

“This new service is just the latest in Spirit’s commitment to continuing in our position as the largest and leading low cost carrier at our Fort Lauderdale home,” says Spirit’s Chief Marketing Officer Barry Biffle.  “We’re thrilled to be even further expanding our network which already offers travelers service to more places in the Caribbean and Latin America than any other low fare, low cost airline.”

“I’m delighted Spirit airlines will be adding another international destination at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport serving the south Florida community,” said Kent George, Broward County Aviation Department Director of Aviation.  “We look forward to future air service expansions as the economy improves.”

“Cibao International Airport is pleased to welcome Spirit Airlines and we hope this new relationship is the strong beginning of a long-term relationship.  We welcome them and wish them much success,” said Ing. Félix Garcia, President Cibao International Airport in Santiago, Dominican Republic. 

"We applaud Spirit Airlines for meeting the growing demand from U.S. visitors and business travelers with the new flights to Santiago, our centrally located second largest city.  Santiago is perfectly situated within a short drive to the popular coastal towns of Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete. In these areas and beyond, visitors can experience the picturesque beaches and learn about unique Dominican products like how the best cigars and rum in the world are produced,” said Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia. “We are pleased to support Spirit Airlines deepening commitment by bringing the new weekly flights to Santiago from Fort Lauderdale. They will compliment the airline’s existing flights to our bustling capital city of Santo Domingo and to our sophisticated resorts in Punta Cana,” he said.

Introductory Fares*

Schedule for Spirit’s Fort Lauderdale-Santiago, Dominican Republic Service Effective June 18, 2009:

 **Santiago-Fort Lauderdale service begins June 19, 2009.

About Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (www.spiritair.com) is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) in the United States, Latin America and Caribbean.  Its all-Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas, flies more than 200 daily flights to 43 destinations.  The company is based in Miramar, Florida, and employs 2,300 professionals.

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* Individual travel-date specific fares must be booked on spiritair.com by 11:59 PM ET on January 9th, 2009 for travel on the dates as specified by individual market and by market direction. To be eligible to purchase the lowest of these fares you must be a member of the Spirit Airlines $9 Fare Club -- please see spiritair.com for details. Fares are for coach class travel unless otherwise specified and reflect the spiritair.com discount. Fares are each way based on roundtrip purchase, and roundtrip travel is required, but these fares may be combined with other valid and applicable Spirit Airlines fares on other dates of travel. Not all markets are operated on a daily basis during the travel period, or necessarily for the entire travel period -- please see spiritair.com for details. All customers are allowed one free carry-on bag. Fees for bags paid in advance online at www.spiritair.com are $15 each way for the first bag only. The fee for Bag 2 is $25 each way, and items 3 thru 5 are $100.00 per item each way. When paying at the airport, fees for the first and second bags are $25 per bag each way. There is no charge to check wheelchairs, strollers, car seats, or other assistive devices. Items that are overweight or oversized will continue to be weighed and sized at the airport, and fees collected when checking in. Golf club and boxes/containers are acceptable and can be prepaid online provided they meet weight and or size restrictions. Additional bags can be pre-purchased at any time provided inventory is available. (No less than one (1) hour prior to departure). All checked baggage fees are non-refundable. Customers involved in a stop-over flight that involves a connection of over 4 hours will be charged based on point to point travel. All fares listed on spiritair.com are per customer for each way of travel and include the base fare plus a federal excise tax and all fuel surcharges. Fares do not include (a) a segment tax of $3.50 per U.S. domestic flight segment (a flight segment is defined as one takeoff and landing) of a passenger’s itinerary; (b) up to $18 per round trip in local airport charges; or (c) a September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport. International itineraries do not include governmental taxes and fees (including U.S. government excise tax) of up to $125 per round trip. Additionally, if sold in, or travel originates in a country outside of the U.S., additional taxes may apply (up to 22% of the fare value per country). Fares are subject to availability and may not be available on all flights or on all days, and will be highly restricted around certain holiday periods. Previously purchased tickets may not be exchanged for these new sale fares. Certain restrictions apply. For best results, please book early.